‘Cast in Blue’ Mount Gambier’s latest cultural landmark was unveiled in the CBD today, a bold public artwork by Melbourne based artists Mitch Walker and Tom Proctor of Huna Studio, installed on Bay Road outside the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre.
Inspired by paleontological discoveries in the region’s sinkholes and caves, the sculpture represents a mythical megafauna creature, merging local geology and prehistoric imagination.
“The story behind Cast in Blue really resonated with us. Emerging as though from the depths of Mount Gambier’s underground world, the bright blue creature is set to become a key attraction, drawing visitors and locals alike to pause, explore and reflect,” Mayor Lynette Martin said.
At first glance, it’s bold and unexpected, but when you learn how deeply it connects to our region’s paleontological and geological history, you understand its appeal. This is what beacon art does, it draws you in, sparks curiosity and encourages further discovery. - Mayor Lynette Martin
The sculpture was born from a conversation between artist Tom Proctor and his paleontologist aunt, who had been cave diving in Mount Gambier and shared photos of fossilised remains found deep underground.
“One of the creatures she showed me was a Palorchestes Panei, a sort of ancient, marsupial ant-eater which was massive, lumbering, and fascinating. It was the seed for the idea of an imagined creature, one that speaks to the many layers of Mount Gambier’s past,” Mr Proctor said.
From this idea, the artists created a symbolic figure, blending elements from multiple extinct marsupials and presenting them in a contemporary, eye-catching form.
“We’d love for people to approach the sculpture with curiosity and openness, to see it not just as an object, but as a kind of story. It's a creature drawn from imagined histories, a blend of memory, ecology and invention. We hope it sparks questions about what’s beneath the surface; both literally in the limestone geology, and metaphorically in how we connect with place,” artist Mitch Walker said.
The Beacon Art Project was endorsed by Council in October 2024 and received 22 expressions of interest from artists across Australia. Huna Studio’s proposal was selected for its creative engagement with the region’s unique landscape and history, and its potential to activate the city’s cultural and tourism offerings.
“Picasso once stated that 'Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life'. Cast in Blue provides an opportunity to intertwine art with our everyday life. All great cities require a diversity of culture and ideas and public art is a huge part of that. Love it or hate it, it announces to the everyone that we are bold and don't shy away from being a little different,” Councillor Max Bruins said.
Located just steps from the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre and the future Visitor Information Centre hub, the sculpture has been strategically placed to encourage foot traffic and engagement as a tourist drawcard.
“This is a high-profile, high-impact artwork that visitors will stop to photograph, interact with, and ask about. It’s playful, mysterious, and totally Instagrammable, a great gateway to learning more about our local history, ecology, and arts scene,” Councillor Frank Morello said.
While the project has sparked public debate, both Council and the artists emphasise that a range of perspectives is a vital part of any thriving arts culture.
“Art should make us think, feel, and talk and Cast in Blue does just that,” Mayor Martin said.
“We are committed to balancing traditional and contemporary approaches to public art, and this piece plays a vital role in shaping a more dynamic, future-facing city.”
“It is natural for public art to prompt different responses. That is part of what makes it meaningful. The work was not made to be universally liked, but to bring something thoughtful and unexpected to the city. We respect that people will feel differently about it, and we trust that over time it will settle into the rhythm of the place in its own way,” Mr Walker said.
Media contact: City of Mount Gambier Media and Communications Coordinator Sharny McLean on 0413 798 327 or smclean@mountgambier.sa.gov.au
